From:
"haherendeen"
Date: 2007-02-01 02:00:55 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] A Curious incident of (I think) stress induced Lethargy?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I'm hoping readers can confirm or give feedback on continued
management of this situation. Let me start this off by saying
Smokey (and Bandit) are both back to 100 percent normal now.
I am a first time ferret owner of two males, born last February. One
is deaf due to Wardenburg syndrome, b/c he has a badger stripe
pattern. They were purchased at the same time, from the same
grouping from a pet store in MA supplied by Marshall breeders. They
were housed together about 20 hours of an average day, in a 2x3x4
foot multi-level cage.
Smokey, the deaf ferret, was observed to be incredibly lethargic
last Friday, and was not responsive in any way to the usual stimulus
of play with us or play with Bandit (the highly exuberant hearing
able ferret) as well as being way more shivery than normal. I am
highly aware of the risks of blockages, and the indications of loss
of apetite and poo-stopage for this, however, being experienced with
other animals, I was able to determine that his digestion was fine,
he stayed hydrated, had a good capilary refil time, with no
indications of pain and continually bright eyes. Basically he was
fine, except for not moving at all.
When extensive research online and through a friend's vet texts
brought no light to the situation (beyond the affirmation that if
things didn't improve soon he'd have to go in for a blood test), I
started racking my brain for behavioral causes, as looking at his
perfectly healthly but thoroughly immobile self (unless getting
food, water or using the box) began to suggest.
All weekend the cage door was left open (Bandit making full use of
this new freedom, Smoke continuing to just stay in one nest or
another, imobile) and Monday while I was at work they had free roam
of a room. By Monday night, Smoke was taking much more interest in
his surroundings, and tonight he was completely normal, running
around and returning to crazy play antics.
He is usally very vocal during play, screaming like a little girl,
and the night before this began they were louder and longer in their
midnight "play" bouts than ever before. I think what may have
happened was that the pressures of the confinement were becomming
too much, and Bandit's high level of energy was getting on Smoke's
nerves.
Has anyone else experienced a behavior incident like this before,
and are there recommendations on how to manage this long-term? I'd
really prefer to keep them housed together, as I think they would be
more lonely in two isolated cages, but if that's the best way to
keep Smoke from a relapse... we may have to try it.
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